“My Baby Was Born Free”: A Mother’s Journey Through PMTCT.

“My Baby Was Born Free”: A Mother’s Journey Through PMTCT.

When Bulalo Masaka learned she was pregnant again, she felt both joy and fear. Living with HIV since 2017, the 28-year-old mother from Nkoma, Geita, now residing in Mara region had been adhering to her treatment, but the thought of transmitting the virus to her unborn baby kept her awake at night.

“I remembered how hard it was when I first got the news years ago,” Bulalo shares. “But I told myself I have support now. I’m not alone.”

Referred to the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) department at Nyasho Health Centre in Musoma, she enrolled in a Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program. It was here that she met Nurse Loveness Msumba a quiet force of strength and guidance. From the early weeks of pregnancy through delivery and postnatal care, Nurse Loveness walked beside Bulalo every step of the way. Her newborn was given antiretroviral prophylaxis immediately after birth and continued treatment for six weeks.

It takes trust, care, and follow-up. Nurse Loveness walks alongside Bulalo, ensuring her child stays healthy and HIV-free. Image © Amref Tanzania

When the first infant HIV test (DBS) came back negative, Bulalo was hopeful but still anxious. For the next 18 months, Loveness maintained close follow up. Regular appointments, adherence support, and continued monitoring were part of their shared routine.

Then came the day they had waited for: the final antibody test.

“When they told me my baby was HIV free, I cried. I was so relieved. I felt like I could breathe again,” Bulalo says.

For Nurse Loveness, that moment meant everything.

“It fills me with pride and joy to see mothers like Bulalo thriving and their children born free. That’s why I do this work,” she says.

Bulalo’s story is one of hope, resilience, and the power of dignified care. Her strength, paired with compassionate support, led to a healthy start for her baby and peace of mind for a mother who once feared the worst.

This story was made possible through the Afya Kamilifu Project, a five-year initiative supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Tanzania. The project was implemented by Amref Health Africa in Tanzania, in partnership with the University of Maryland Baltimore (CIHEB) and the Tanzania Communication and Development Center (TCDC), with strong collaboration from the Ministry of Health in Tanzania and PO-RALG.